Bengaluru, October 23, 2024: The death toll from the building collapse in Bengaluru rose to five on Wednesday morning as relentless rain continued to hammer the city, complicating rescue operations.
Efforts are ongoing to clear debris and rescue individuals still trapped beneath the rubble. So far, 13 people have been rescued and five others have been injured, officials confirmed.
The under-construction building collapsed Tuesday afternoon in the Horamavu Agara area in eastern Bengaluru, with around 20 people inside the structure at the time, according to local authorities. Rescue teams, including a dog squad, resumed operations early this morning despite the continuous downpour.
One survivor, Ayaaz, was pulled from the wreckage after being trapped for nearly 16 hours.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the scene late Tuesday, confirming that 21 people had initially been trapped under the debris. He revealed that the collapsed building was being constructed illegally. “Strict action will be taken against those responsible for this tragedy,” Shivakumar said, emphasizing the need for stronger regulations on building permits.
Shivakumar praised the efforts of the rescue teams, which included the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire brigade, and police. “The priority is to complete the rescue operations, and after that, we will implement a solution,” he stated.
“We will take action against the owners of buildings that have been constructed without proper permissions. This incident is a lesson, and to prevent such disasters in the future, it will be mandatory to obtain building permits, and a team will be deployed to monitor ongoing construction.”
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall continues to disrupt life in several parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘yellow’ alert, warning of further downpours throughout the day. In response, local authorities have declared a holiday for schools, while IT companies have advised employees to work from home.
With the rescue efforts ongoing and rainfall persisting, concerns remain high as authorities work to manage both the aftermath of the collapse and the continued disruption caused by flooding in various parts of Bengaluru.
